Maintenance of replicative intermediates in ganciclovir-treated human cytomegalovirus-infected retinal glia

Eileen M. Burd, Jose S. Pulido, Donald G. Puro, William J. O'Brien

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives: To characterize the molecular structure of the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) DNA maintained in cultures of human retinal glia following ganciclovir treatment and to determine the biological activity of the DNA. Methods: Cultures of human retinal glia were established, infected with HCMV, treated with ganciclovir, and embedded in agarose, and the viral DNA was analyzed by field inversion gel electrophoresis. Results: The HCMV DNA was found to persist in cultures of infected, ganciclovir-treated retinal glial cells in the form of replicative intermediates. After removal of ganciclovir, processed forms of DNA in the 500- to 1000-kilobase range were found as well as 230-kb unit length genome. Infectious virus was recovered after termination of ganciclovir treatment. Conclusion: The data are consistent with the concept that ganciclovir's virostatic nature permits maintenance of HCMV DNA in retinal glia in a biologically active form that is capable of replication after removal of the drug.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)856-861
Number of pages6
JournalArchives of ophthalmology
Volume114
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1996

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ophthalmology

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